Charlie Angus FTW.

Clearly Darth Drunkard's intentions were playful and the assault charge was over the top.

What he observed is a group of young males engaged in physical play. He got a humorous inspiration (it was kinda funny, despite the flawed delivery) and grabbed the first props he could, charging in like an excited puppy with a big goofy smile on his face.

Yes he crossed the line, but mostly because he was both ignorant of the rules of play in that setting as well as being impaired. From what I can see in the video, his body language was all about play not aggression.

This is the kind of thing that is resolved with a handshake and an apology, and a warning or fine from the local constable. A criminal record and internet notoriety seems pretty harsh.

I think that this particular Jedi nerd-cluster is on the Dark Side - the assault charges are frivolous.

At least our crutch-wielding galactic criminal learned something - ease off on the sauce. And perhaps that his Star Wars lightsaber / Jackie Chan Drunken Master fusion style needs a little more work.

@SIGISMUND:

dèche means misery, en bon français.

it means something altogether naughtier in Canadian French slang. hint: bukake.

It baffles me why they would give this rather juvenile incident any press. And the whole "children might have seen a bum" angle is ridiculous.

Mooning people from your buddy's car is a pretty banal and adolescent male impulse. I'm pretty sure I did this in high school a few times. Certainly witnessed it in cars and school buses on countless occasions. This is a prime example of testosterone and impaired judgment - i.e. boys will be boys. No big whoop.

@18: Your comment reminds me of a buddy of mine, Ronnie, who used to keep a mannequin (dressed & wigged) in the passenger seat of his Honda CRV so he could use the HOV lane on his morning commute.

I suggested he modify it such that one arm was hinged and attach a pulley and line so he could make her "salute" the other drivers as he passed them by.

I don't think that they should have pulled the video because they should be honest about what the game is about: sex and violence. Pulling the video is showing that they really are all about the money. "We're offended by the content, but we'll still take the cheque." Yeah well fuck you IGN and fuck you Rockstar. You are teh suck.

This game, in all its glory, really only appeals to one group: young men. And that is tragic.

As a 30-something man, I find the video a little funny because its silly to me. One viewing by a mature adult produces that result - humor. I am not remotely interested in playing the game. I don't think that the game would change my views about women because I am a grown-up and I'm not going to devolve to an adolescent and start objectifying women again, LIKE I WAS CONDITIONED TO BY SOCIETY GROWING UP. Someone 10 or 15 years younger playing the game extensively is going to experience something altogether different.

This is my point: pornography (sex + violence) does real harm.

It is inevitable that everyone is going to get exposed to pornography. The question is when and with what information in hand to deal with it.

If we educate our kids on gender issues, the senselessness of violence, and we reduce their exposure to porn until at least semi-adulthood, they will have better tools to deal with it and the impact on their relationships with each other won't be damaged.

Rockstar is really taking the low-road here, IMO. This game promotes violence, and especially toward women. How that is expressed by the kids exposed to it will not be to model the behavior in the game directly (in 99.99% of cases, at least) but it WILL have an impact on their views about their role in society and relationships with others, with women in particular.

Finally, the first step toward reducing harm to society by pornographic material is not necessarily censorship. That whole freedom vs values dichotomy is just an argument that goes nowhere. There is a middle road. It's harder to find, but there is one.

This is a really old video, recently reposted to youtube, and amongst the lamest cop 'gotcha' videos ever. Like parking in front of a fire hydrant while 50 feet away is somehow A Big Deal. Personally, I think the videographer's bad manners are a more serious offense.

Why are you posting this shite? C'mon, we deserve better.

@10: You must be kidding.

Fear wasn't the response that came to mind. Outrage, fury, disgust, and an involuntary sue response are more consistent with my feelings.

If this is real - because its so outrageous it mustn't be - and it is state-sponsored, I would be seriously creeped out.

I always find it especially shocking when fellow citizens advocate abuse of authority. I figure, they might be cylons.

The hardest jews are in the Israeli army! And they get ink (look closely at his chest) as well as dodge large amphibians.

http://dailyboomerang.com/2008/03/05/israeli-tourist-survives-crocodile-attack/